BY LESLEY CLARK

The Miami Herald

WASHINGTON - Drilling for oil and gas could occur 100 miles from much of the U.S. shoreline -- or at least 50 miles closer if states don't move to block it -- under a compromise that threatens to splinter the Florida congressional delegation's long-united front against offshore energy exploration.

The proposal -- which offers Florida less protection than an agreement rejected last year -- was announced Monday by Republican leaders in the House, who met over the weekend to hammer out the details.

Some Florida House Republicans, who were engaged in the negotiations, are expected to sign on -- but their Democratic counterparts denounced the deal and the closed-door negotiations that led to it.

Florida Republicans, however, suggested they have little room to maneuver, with rising gas prices making GOP leaders in both chambers eager to open up new areas to oil and gas exploration.

''It's a step in the right direction, particularly when you look at the options,'' said Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, a Miami Republican who said talks with colleagues have convinced him that there is considerable support for legislation that would allow drilling for natural gas as close as 20 miles from shore. ``Every year that goes by we lose more leverage.''

COASTAL CONTROL

Rep. Adam Putnam, a Bartow Republican who represented Florida in the talks, praised the legislation for offering Florida ''permanent control of its coastline.'' And Gov. Jeb Bush's office signaled last week it could support a buffer zone of 100 miles.

The compromise, announced by House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo, R-Calif., would prevent oil and natural gas drilling within 50 miles of the Outer Continental Shelf. States could petition the federal government to allow drilling closer to their shores -- unless neighboring states were to object.

Drilling could occur beyond 50 miles, unless state legislatures and governors vote to block drilling up to 100 miles. The coastal states would have to vote within one year to prevent drilling for natural gas and by 2009 to block oil leases. The states would be required to vote every five years to keep the 100-mile bans intact.

Waters beyond 100 miles from shore would be open to drilling and coastal states that allow drilling would be given an opportunity to share some of the profits.

Pombo called it a ''common-sense compromise'' that puts the ''states themselves in the drivers seat.'' He criticized the decades-old moratorium that now protects the U.S. coastline, saying it ``locks away massive amounts of desperately needed energy resources.''

COASTAL COMPROMISE

Rep. Jim Davis, a Tampa Democrat seeking his party's nomination for governor, said last year's proposal was ``terrible for Florida and this proposal is even worse.''

And environmentalists warned the measure would likely transfer the costly and contentious battle over offshore drilling to state legislatures.

''They're putting all their eggs in the state Legislature,'' said Mark Ferrulo, of Florida Public Interest Research Group, which has long opposed efforts to open the shoreline to drilling, arguing that it could threaten the state's beaches. ``Imagine the world's largest, richest, most politically connected corporations coming into the state legislatures with a bottomless bank account and an army of the most politically connected lobbyists money can buy.''

Pombo's committee is expected to review the legislation Wednesday, which could be on the House floor as soon as next week -- as part of a Republican package of energy bills to be voted on before the Fourth of July holiday.

The buffer is considerably smaller than one sought by Florida's two senators, who were among the Florida lawmakers who last year rejected a 125-mile buffer zone offered by Pombo.

PARTISAN DISCONTENT

Word of the new compromise triggered quick criticism from Florida Democrats who have accused their Republican counterparts of engaging in ''backroom negotiations'' with GOP leaders.

''We're being forced to react in darkness,'' said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston. ``A delegation that was once renowned for its unanimity and unity, at least on drilling, well now half has been shut out.''